Join hundreds of volunteers making a difference each year!
The Volunteer Experience
Apply today to join the team and serve with us at one of our sites: Lesvos, Samos or Malakasa.
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We accept volunteers for a minimum of 4 weeks. For the context we serve in, we encourage volunteers to come for 6 months or more. The minimum age to volunteer with Eurorelief in refugee camps is 18 years old. You must be able to speak and understand English, preferably B2 English proficiency.
It is possible to volunteer as a team. Teams must have a team leader with them on the ground for the duration of their time volunteering. The size of a team should be 3–7 people, including the team leader. The minimum volunteer time of 4 weeks applies to teams as well. Teams are expected to find their own accommodation and transportation. Before applying, the team leader should reach out to applications@eurorelief.cc well in advance of their intended dates for more information and next steps.
You can directly apply with Eurorelief through our application form. The application needs to be submitted at least 4 weeks in advance of your desired arrival date to ensure enough time to complete the registration process. Please remain flexible with your preferred location to serve with us, as needs across our sites change often and we may ask you to go where there is a greater need. After you have filled out the application form, our Volunteer Services team will reach out to you with an acceptance email or further questions.
Your acceptance email will include much more information about your time volunteering with Eurorelief as well as next steps: the registration form, online safeguarding training, registration payment and a police background check. Our Volunteer Services team will stay in touch with you through email and WhatsApp until you have arrived on the island.
With the exception of Greek staff, Eurorelief does not pay salaries or give any kind of stipend to volunteers to cover your expenses while volunteering. Our pay-your-own-way model means as a volunteer you will cover your own traveling expenses, individual visa or administrative work needed, health insurance, housing, transportation and personal expenses on site. In addition you will pay €200 upon registration for expenses including administrative work for camp entrance, access to our office space and community center, as well as team nights and events.
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Volunteering with an NGO means that the circumstances can be very unpredictable; therefore, we ask you to be flexible. However, it is important to us that we equip and care for our volunteers as well as possible.
Usually, you will be greeted by a Member Care person upon arrival. They will bring you to your apartment. We have shared housing available for €15 per night. If housing is not available, suggestions will be made on how or where to book your own.
During your first days Member Care will lead you through onboarding training and a camp tour. As the environment can be intense, they will continue to be available for you during your stay, checking in with you regularly. Once a week they also organize a community night for the team.
During your first weeks you will have additional trainings before or after shift that will help you understand the context and the people we work with.
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In most cases an internship with Eurorelief is possible, depending on the requirements and duration of your internship.
The internship should be primarily focused on practical, hands-on work and requires a full-time commitment of 5 days per week for a minimum of 4 weeks at one of our sites. During the application process, you will be connected with an on‑site supervisor who will be your main contact person before and during your internship. When an academic report, research assignment or project is required as part of your internship, you and your Eurorelief supervisor will agree on a topic that aligns with university guidelines and on‑site activities.
To apply as an intern, complete our application form. Within the form you can indicate that you are applying for an internship or as part of your studies.
Because our work takes place in a dynamic field setting, changes can occur and flexibility is an important part of the internship experience.
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Eurorelief is an NGO that is based on a Christian worldview, values and ethics from the Bible. You do not need to be a Christian to volunteer with us, but you should be aware and respectful of the fact that most of the others are.
Eurorelief is firmly committed to the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality and respect for human dignity. Accordingly, we strictly prohibit any form of religious proselytizing within our aid operations. This means that we condemn any attempt to coerce, manipulate, or incentivize individuals to adopt or engage in religious beliefs or practices. Eurorelief’s commitment is to provide needs-based, non-discriminatory assistance to all individuals, regardless of religion, belief or lack thereof.
Some of the Christian practices that you will be involved in as a volunteer include starting each shift with a short devotional and prayer and our weekly community meeting, which includes fellowship, food and a teaching from the Bible. All volunteers are expected to attend these events, but you do not have to actively participate if you are not comfortable.
There are also optional spiritual opportunities for volunteers such as church services, Bible studies, and worship and prayer events.
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Contact applications@eurorelief.cc
“Eurorelief does great in encouraging young people to lead and take responsibility. I learned so much in my time here! I have grown a lot in my leadership skills and experience. I very much appreciate the trust that was put in me to step up.”
— Sophie, 2-time volunteer
“It is truly awesome to witness volunteers from many nations coming to serve the nations in this small corner of the world. Seeds of hope and love are planted, and lives are forever transformed.”
— Chris Moore, Member Care